-For today’s prophecy update, I want to talk about what seems are unprecedented geopolitical developments in the Middle East. -Specifically related to Saudi Arabia along with Iran and Russia, vis-à-vis Syria, all of which point to Isaiah 17 and Ezekiel 38-39. -However, I think I would be grossly remiss were I not to first mention something that has really caught my attention as of late.

-What I’m speaking of are the countless scandals of alleged sexual sin that has virtually eclipsed everything, because sex sells! -Please know that I’m absolutely not in any way dismissing the seriousness of sexual abuse. However, it’s all that’s talked about. -Just two weeks ago, a demon-possessed man murdered 26 people in a church, and nobody is even talking about it anymore.

-While I would never posture myself as one having all the answers especially when it comes to evil like this, I will say, “but God.” -They will mean it for evil, but God, will mean it for good, in order to bring it about that many people come to salvation in Christ. -On Thursday night, we finished the book of Nehemiah in our study through the Bible, and in so doing we were reminded of this.

Nehemiah 13:1-2 --1 On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people, and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God, 2 because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Deuteronomy 23:5 Nevertheless the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, but the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.

-Again, I in no way wish to be dismissive of the seriousness of this nor do I want to provide an oversimplification concerning this. -Rather, I’m hoping that I can encourage you with what the Lord has encouraged me with in light of everything that is happening. -Namely, that of no weapon forged against us, nor even the gates of hell itself, will ever prevail over the church of Jesus Christ.

-This brings us to the aforementioned matter at hand, which has also been virtually eclipsed by sexual scandal in recent weeks. -With the exception of Fox News, there has been little to no coverage of the massive shift that is taking place in the Middle East. -Perhaps you’ll kindly indulge me as I try to sort through all that’s taking place, and in order to do this I’ll list what I call fast-facts.

1. The Prime Minister of my birthplace in Lebanon, Saad Hariri, announced his resignation in Saudi Arabia, where he fled, fearing for his life because of Iranian backed Hezbollah. 2. The Iranian backed Houthi rebels in Yemen fired a ballistic missile supplied by Iran at the Riyadh international Airport in Saudi Arabia, which they intercepted and destroyed mid-flight declaring it an “act of war.” 3. In Saudi Arabia, 31-year old Crowned Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who replaced his cousin, Mohammed bin Nayef, is now heir to the throne behind his father, King Salman. 4. In 2015, Mohammed bin Salman launched an aerial campaign against the Iranian backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, and, were he to be crowned King, will, according to one source, launch a similar campaign against Iran in Lebanon and Syria. 5. Mohammed bin Salman as Prince has already courted the US and Israel with the attempts of garnering military support in launching said campaign, and is anticipating that the US will ally with Israel and Saudi Arabia.

-The question becomes one of, what does all this mean? To answer this we need look no further than Isaiah 17 and Ezekiel 38. -I am keenly aware that I run the risk of sounding sensational when I say this, but we are closer to this than many of us realize. -Never before in human history, has everything lined up as it is today, and I would suggest it can’t remain this way much longer.

-It’s for this reason I take the time at the end of these weekly prophecy updates, to share the good news of salvation in Christ. -I’m so thankful that in doing so, we’ve been receiving testimonies from all over the world of people being saved because of this. -Please permit me to share with you one such testimony from someone in Japan who emailed us about how she came to Christ.

What follows are excerpts from the email, that she gave me permission to share with you, “Dear Pastor J. D., My name is Fuyuko Chishima writing this from Osaka Japan. I was born in a traditional Japanese family and my loving grandfather was the Most Mercy Priest in the biggest temple in Osaka. The temple is famous due to the first arrival of Buddhism in Japan. …I made many, many, sins for about 20 years because I thought I was lucky and strong. Several years ago my success failed, my health had problems, I lost everything, and finally I thought it was meaningless to live anymore. …"BUT GOD" …One day, I noticed every sins caused from me was by myself. I believe now GOD made me think so. I did regret what I was doing, and how I was wrong. A few days ago, you, Pastor JD taught me through the online church that the "Gospel is so simple like the Bible says. Nothing else is needed but only A B C." I love this! I am saved through your teaching. Now my questions about how to be a Christian are cleared up through your teaching. THANK YOU SO, SO, SO, MUCH, PASTOR J.D.”

When I emailed her back asking for permission to share this, she told me about the ministry that translates our prophecy updates from English to Japanese, which is where she found us. The website is, http://www.divineus.org/bible/pastorjd.html. She also mentioned that she and her fiancé Mr. HITOSHI YOSHIDA wish to come to Hawaii to get married.

The ABC’s of Salvation – The A is for Admit you’re a sinner, (Romans 3:23). The B is for Believe, (Romans 10:9-10). The C is for Call, (Romans 10:9-10 13).